Flooring weights

[tehmarks]

I've been planning to replace the carpet throughout the boat since I bought it, but it's occurred to me recently that the additional weight may pose a problem. I'd rather not mess around with removing ballast if I don't have to, because getting the subfloor up will involve dismantling most of my built-in furniture. I don't suppose anyone has any rough data for the weights (per m^2) for strand-woven bamboo, LVT and carpet? Unsurprisingly it's not something that manufacturers seem to publish in their data sheets, and I thought Canal World might hold the answer and save me sending several separate emails.

 

The installed carpet is relatively lightweight — like this sort of thing.

[zenataomm]

Solely for clarification and to help others help you.

 

Are you concerned about the weight of different floor/wall coverings having a detrimental effect on the ballast of your boat?

[David Mack]

Surely a piece of boat-sized carpet isn't going to weigh any more than you do. In which case the effect on the boat's draft will be of the same order as when you step on board. 

As Murflynn says in a related thread, it pays not to overthink things.

[Alan de Enfield]

14 minutes ago, tehmarks said:

I'd rather not mess around with removing ballast if I don't have to

 

Are you concerned about your hull fittings being too close to the waterline ?

 

If the carpet weighs (say) an extra 50kgs thats only 50 litres of diesel, or, 50 litres of water, or a couple of toilet cassettes, or gas bottles or a medium size child.

Is that really going to make any difference to your boat ?

[tehmarks]

The bathroom and galley skin fittings (welded pipe type with appropriate plumbing and seacocks) are already virtually at the waterline. The carpet will weigh virtually nothing, but I was worried that heavier flooring may pose a problem. I can't conceptualise how heavy bamboo or vinyl flooring are. That said, very good point, it's somewhat irrelevant compared to the weight of a few guests...

Edited January 29, 2021 by tehmarks

[Ex Brummie]

1 hour ago, tehmarks said:

The bathroom and galley skin fittings (welded pipe type with appropriate plumbing and seacocks) are already virtually at the waterline. 

But how high up inside the boat are they extended?

[tehmarks]

Far enough to be safe and sensible in terms of freeboard — but it seems, to me, to be suboptimal for the outlet to be underwater by default? Which is what I was worried may happen if I add another 100kg of flooring. On reflection, as pointed out, I'm not actually convinced it'll actually make any tangible difference...

 

Compared to some on here I feel I only play at boating, so it's always refreshing to hear the more experienced voices. Even when they're pointing out what should be blindingly obvious

[David Mack]

100kg of floor covering would take a full length narrow boat down about 1/10 of an inch, so proportionately more if your boat is shorter. So just not significant.

[tehmarks]

Thank you all, happy to hear I can get rid of this 'orrible carpet at long last!